The Surgical Artist's Blog

We’ve been blogging for nine years now, and during that time we’ve covered so many topics to help educate and inform our readers about the “ins and outs” of cosmetic surgery. From articles on face lifts to lasers and lights, from breast augmentations to Brazilian Butt Lifts and more, we’ve tried to represent the breadth and depth of all the services we offer here at Southern Surgical Arts.

We see women of all shapes and sizes every day at Southern Surgical Arts. And while you can’t place every shape into a neat category, some of the most common body types that we see are the Hourglass, Rectangle, Pear, and Apple.  Patients in each shape category have their own individual beauty concerns, but we have noticed some trends that are common to each type.

Oily skin can make skin care a serious challenge. Combating that ever-present shine can take up way more of your time and attention than you’d like, and you’ve always got to be careful your efforts don’t cause more harm than good. Keep reading for 6 ways to bring out the best in your oily skin. 

If you’re one of the millions of women (or men) struggling with hair loss, you know how upsetting it can be to experience. Watching your “crowning glory” become thin and sparse takes an emotional toll, and you may end up worrying about your hair’s appearance instead of simply enjoying your life.

If you were to ask women in their 40s and 50s what they wish they could go back in time and do differently regarding their appearance, many would tell you, “I wish I had taken better care of my skin.” Whether they regret the time spent perfecting their tans by the pool or in tanning beds, driving with the convertible top down in the middle of summer, or playing tennis in sleeveless tops and short skirts, chances are some poor sun exposure habits caught up with them in later years.

One of the most tell-tale signs of aging is the development of hollow eyes. The term “hollow eyes” refers to a sunken appearance under the eyes leading to a “hollow” look. If you already have deep-set eyes, hollowing can be even more dramatic, causing you to look older than you are, or chronically tired. Improving the look of sunken eyes is a common request at Southern Surgical Arts, especially now that they can be treated with minimally-invasive methods as well as surgical interventions.

Chances are you’ve heard of Microneedling—it’s currently one of the hottest skin treatments available because it can make a variety of skin issues look significantly improved in just a few treatments. Microneedling is an excellent treatment to promote cellular regeneration. Thousands of micro-channels are made in the skin via a “skin pen” device, promoting the growth of new cells and causing the skin to
become plumper, firmer, smoother, and more youthful in appearance.

Nothing frames a face as well as a pair of beautifully-groomed eyebrows. But if you weren’t lucky enough to be born with brows like Cara Delevingne, or if you are one of the many, many women who overplucked in the 90s and never quite got your original eyebrows back…we can help!

You may have heard about the “vampire facelift” on the news or in beauty magazines as one of the hottest new trends in beauty procedures. Despite the somewhat scary-sounding name, the term actually refers to a technology that’s been used for years to speed healing in athletic injuries—no supernatural creatures involved!

1. Hair Loss Is a Man’s Problem. To watch TV, you might get the impression that hair loss was not an issue for women. For each commercial with ten smiling men showing off their before-and-after hair treatment results, you might see one or two women. In actuality, however, up to 40% of women will experience some degree of hair loss over their lifetime.
2. Minoxidil is the solution for hair loss. Unfortunately, while some have a great response to minoxidil (better known as Rogaine), some do not respond at all. Minoxidil tends to be more effective when used for pattern baldness at the crown of the head and is much less effective, for treating thinning at the hairline or along the part. Some may experience hair regrowth, others may stop losing hair but with no regrowth, and still others may receive no benefits at all.
3. Finasteride is the solution for hair loss. While Finasteride, also known as Propecia, may be very effective in some people, it is not a cure-all for hair loss. For starters, women cannot take Finasteride due to the risk of side effects including birth defects. And men may experience unpleasant issues as well, including sexual side effects, and is not appropriate for those with certain types of liver function problems. Add to this the fact that many question just how effective Finasteride is in actually, noticeably regrowing hair, and some may not wish to risk the side effects.
4. You Won’t Lose Your Hair Until You’re Older. Men and women who have begun losing their hair in their early 20s can debunk this myth—the truth is, you are never too young (or too old) to experience thinning hair, especially if thin hair runs in your family. Conversely, some may maintain a thick head of hair until hormonal changes take their toll in their 40s or 50s.
5. Dyeing Your Hair Can Make It Fall Out. Certainly, constantly bleaching, dyeing, perming and straightening hair can take a serious toll on your locks. You may experience dry, frazzled and broken hair that looks thinner. However, you shouldn’t actually lose a significant amount of hair from normal, everyday hair treatments, and if you do lose any, it should grow back over the course of time.
6. If Your Mother Has Thin Hair, You Will Also Lose Your Hair. This is not necessarily the case, nor is the converse—if your mother has a full head of hair at 70, you may still lose yours. Hair loss actually comes from both parents.
7. There is No Good Solution for Hair Loss. Despite the fact that hair loss is such a prevalent problem, and one that can have serious detrimental effects on sufferer’s self-esteem and confidence, the truth remains that there is not yet a pharmaceutical or over-the-counter magic bullet yet. A combination of approaches, and starting as soon as hair loss is noted, will achieve the best results.

If you are feeling discouraged about your options for treating thinning hair, there is hope! There is now a revolutionary new treatment for treating hair thinning called Neograft, available at Southern Surgical Arts.